Barbie n.— «Now, the Linux community has long enjoyed the insights of technically minded geeks, many of whom count the command line among their best friends. We would be remiss not to alert our readers, however, to a small—but rapidly growing—minority in the community known to some as “Linux Barbies.” Carla Schroder of Linux Today explains: [...]read more »

new buffalo n.— «Among U.S. Indians, gambling advocates have taken to calling casinos the “new buffalo.” At last count, 224 American tribes had opened gaming operations, in 28 states, hauling in US$25-billion in 2006, more than double the take just five years earlier. In California alone, 51 tribes generate $4-billion in revenue and have created 40,000 [...]read more »

square breathing n.— «Physical tactics during public speaking are also important in reducing nervousness and succeeding during a public presentation. Loving suggests a technique called square breathing: Breathe in through your nose, pushing your stomach out while counting to four. Hold the breath to the count of four. Breathe out through your mouth, sucking in your [...]read more »

fong kong n.—Gloss: in South Africa and Zimbabwe, a product from Asia, usually believed to be shoddy and cheap. Note: The expression seems to be used both as a count and noncount noun. A similar term is zhing zhong. «Several traders said that they suspect the hefty duty is a ploy by government to force them [...]read more »

heirhead n.— «Not Even Jail Can Unspoil Heirhead…Paris Hilton is preparing to trade her 600-count Frette sheets for a threadbare wool blanket, and to cover her thong-less, Valtrexed bottom with polyester-blend bloomers.» —“Not Even Jail Can Unspoil Heirhead” by Andrea Peyser New York Post May 8, 2007. (source: Double-Tongued Dictionary)read more »

carrot-cruncher n.— «Carrot-munchers 1; global confectionery giant 0. For millions of people around the world, Sunday’s climbdown by the makers of Mars Bars was a particularly sweet success. I use the term “carrot-munchers” affectionately, being one myself. Indeed, in the six years since I joined the ranks of the veggie brigade, I’ve lost count of the [...]read more »

At First Blush (episode #1529) 07/15/2019: Book recommendations and the art of apology. Martha and Grant share some good reads, including an opinionated romp through English grammar, a Spanish-language adventure novel,... [more]

Gift Horse (episode #1528) 07/01/2019: The edge of the Grand Canyon. A remote mountaintop. A medieval cathedral. Some places are so mystical you feel like you're close to another dimension... [more]